A Moment to Savor

Life is as delicate, and as amazing as the pristine beauty of a tiny flower--the satin purity of its petals emerging from its rough and dirty roots. Although these last few months have been very painful, stressful, and exhausting, God has brought sunshine and lovliness into my turbulent existence. As is usually the case, He's used my son as the medium for His blessings in my life.

Damion as a little feller.

To begin with, let me just say that the gift of Damion is, always has been, and always will be the most significant positive earthly force in my life. Only his absence has ever brought sadness to my heart, as he is a true ray of light, hope, and goodness. From the moment he was conceived he has changed lives, brought smiles and courage, and his charisma and spirituality has astounded more people than just myself -- even as a small child. And now, just after his twentieth birthday, Damion has bestowed on me an additional gift: his new wife, Bethany.

Bethany in High School.

As my close friends and family know, after Damion's birth I spent years trying to conceive again...hoping for a girl to complement such a radiant son. However, I was never blessed with another child. In retrospect, it turns out that this fact is another example of God knowing me better than I know myself. It's likely that my view of Damion might have created unfair expectations of another child. In essence, he spoiled me. That said, with the addition of Damion's new wife (wow!!! I still can't get used to saying that!) I am really getting the daughter that I always hoped to have. (And no diapers to change, heh heh.) Damion, being the type of man he is, couldn't have chosen a better woman to enhance our lives. Bethany is another gift, an angel, that I feel will be a wonderful support with a tender spirit and a sweet love for my son.

You may kiss the bride!!

The love of a man for his wife.

The love of a woman for her husband.

So now our lives move forward on these new paths together. As Damion begins his life as a husband I continue my educational endeavors as I begin classes on Monday. The Creative Writing course I attended in the spring netted me a 4.0. (YAYYYYYY!!!) A nice beginning for my educational career. I look forward to working hard to achieve the same in my new classes this summer. We're on our way!!!

Signing off...

P.S. Forgot to mention that Sarah, Damion's cousin, who is now a music major at CU, played the violin for Damion's wedding. Below are a photo of her that day, and a photo of her and Damion when they were kids. :-)

Off To School I Go

So this may be old news to some, but to those who haven't heard me rambling on incessantly about my new experience: I am now a bona-fide CU co-ed. *GRIN* Of course, I am only taking one class, at present, until things settle down in my life a little, but I aspire to take as many classes as possible, as quickly as possible, toward my goal of at least a B.A. in English/Creative Writing (and if I find a way: a Masters--or dare I dream: a Ph.D.)!

Okay, okay -- one step at a time. I began with (you guessed it) Intro to Creative Writing, which I am enjoying immensely. It is a fairly simple class, but as I am largely unused to deadlines, schoolwork, studying, etc...(not since I was 16 years old!!) I thought it wise to begin with something that would gently immerse me in these activities, allowing me to do well and "get my feet wet" and still be accredited toward my final goal.

I am taking this course through CU's Continuing Education's "ACCESS" Program. Several credits (classes) will soon establish me as a good "risk" for enrollment as a degree student. Every class I choose will "count" toward that goal.

Thankfully, I earned two scholarships that cut the price of the class down to 1/4 of the original cost. I plan to apply for any and every scholarship and/or grant that I possibly can for future classes, as well.

Meanwhile, I am also in search of living accommodations. While visions of a royal dwelling are every Princess's dream, I don't think I'll be purchasing (or even renting) the Balmoral castle anytime soon. Heh heh heh

Still -- a princess can dream as big as she likes, right?




Oh yes -- and a crown to go with my new confident attitude: nothing but kid gloves and royal treatment of me from this day forward. Okay--all of you know me, and you know that I am NOT the princess type -- no frills and bows -- but I've decided that my emotions are the things that must be treated with better care.

And that is all I have to say about that. *smirk*

I thought it was only fitting that I include two or three of the experimental poems that I included in a recent compilation for one of three semester projects for my class. (After all: this blog is called The Write Spot, Ink.)

I hope the sarcasm and jesting nature is not entirely lost to the reader in the homonym play of this first poem:


To Be or Not To Be His Chattel
© 2009 Jillynne M. Jensen

Whether I weather the weather
Is neither hither or thither.

What you are due to do, (mon dieux!)
Has no bearing on my baring my bearing.
So you’re voicing your opinion of yore.
So what?

So do I care? Au contraire, mon Frère!
I refuse to accept the refuse from
Your mined mind; do you mind?

Try not to stare upon the stair,
As the object of your desire rises higher
And the elusive hare tosses her hair at the hayseed hayer;
On her way down town to drown the clown
Once again, my friend.

Where o’ where were the were-wolves when I
Needed to needle your nettled mettle?

Is there a reason for the treason in this season
Of life’s strife?

Oh yes! It is the danger of your anger
That has trussed up my trust.

For, my bastion’s question of me:
“How strong is your stronghold,
Jaded shade?

Is your road rode hard?
Dirty linen swingin’ in the
Winding wind?
Are you dying to dye? Or dying to die?

Master the master, and wing the win,” says he.
“For ‘fore!’ to the four-fold life that is yours to
Reign or rain upon. Or to be rained upon as a poor poured upon pawn.”

O clever, clever; let it be never!



And a more traditional love sonnet, using the original sonnet format:


Secret Yearning
© 2009 Jillynne M. Jensen

Ponder not, fair Lady, the shine of armor bright;
Think no more thine hidden desires of heart.
This fiery morn that breaks, yon brave and handsome knight—
To battle for his cherished King—departs.
Bind thy whole affection, lovely damsel white
‘Neath the folds of unimpassioned youth.
A flippant tongue, to hide thy tender, wretched, plight,
To belie, within thy wounded soul, the truth.
Lovely maid, cast not thy veil of perfume sweet
To hoof and ground as swords pass nigh.
For allegiance to the crown his heart doth beat.
And, as thy trampled mantle, there to die
Upon a cold and bitter field of stone—
To rest beneath the flattened loam.

And finally, the following is a "replacement" poem. The idea is to take a favorite famous poem and replace as many nouns, adjectives, verbs, etc...as you can; virtually creating a brand new poem. However, the tempo, rhythm, and pattern of the poem will remain like the original. I chose to do this to Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven." Since the original poem is eighteen stanzas long, I selected a mere six of my favorite stanzas to "replace." (Thereby creating a much shorter story.) *chuckle* (You might want to look up "The Raven" online to compare the two for fun.)

Hope you enjoy this:

The Noble
© 2009 Jillynne M. Jensen

Once upon a fortress Royal, while I circle guests will spoil
Over many a tipped and overturned goblet of burgundy wine.
While I studied, nearly reeling, suddenly there came a squealing,
As of some wheel piercing pealing, pealing on the ballroom floor.
“’Tis some nobleman,” I muttered, “squealing on the ballroom floor—
Only noise, and something more.”

Deep into that raucous steering, as I moved there pondering, hearing,
Shouting, shrieking shrieks no mortal ever heard or shrieked before;
But the twirling went unbroken, and the people danced unspoken,
And the only sound there croakin’ was my inner voice once more.
This I stifled, and the screaming rattled shrill the sound once more.
Merely noise, and something more.

Back amongst the dancers yearning, all my doubt within me churning,
Soon again I heard a squealing somehow shriller than before.
“Indeed,” said I, “indeed I hear torture as the waltzing passes:
Let me seek, then, what the clash is and this suffering explore—
Let my mind be calm at present and this suffering explore—
‘Tis the dance, and something more.

Presently my nerve knew power, ambulating then that hour,
“Lord,” said I, (I found him), “truly your countenance, I looked for;
And the truth is I was reeling, and so gravely you yelled, pealing,
And so strident you yelled squealing, squealing on the ballroom floor
That I knew if once I saw you—saw you lying on the floor;
‘Tis the wine, and something more.”

Then this slanderous cur a-hollering—his falsehood I am following—
With his lies and cries deceiving, to the gathering he roared:
“Though her breast be calm and gentle, she,” he spoke, “wears dark a mantle;
Grisly deeds, this evil maiden, effecting death—my organs gored—
Spare me, Maid, my fated end, please—from your hand’s significant sword!”
Said the Noble, on the floor.

And the Noble, ever crying, still lay dying, still lay dying
On the sharpened blade, a dagger, there upon the ballroom floor;
And the breath from him was quitting, as a dancer that is sitting,
And the people near him flitting, hurl their censure to my core;
And the knife gained from the Noble now lies dripping with my gore:
I lay dying on the floor.

__________________________

So that is my short update after nearly a year of blogging sabbatical. Hopefully, I will have a lot more to add soon, as my life is changing nearly every day.

Signing off...

Freely Breathing

I can't believe that I forgot to mention one of the highlights of my time in Houston!


I am no longer a victim of the smoking section; dangling precariously on the already thin plank of life as a middle aged woman!

Of course, like the caption says below the cartoon (above), no one really notices until I mention it. LOL Still, that's not really important. The important thing is that I have a much longer life expectancy now.

Furthermore, our house has become a non-smoking home because Philip has also quit smoking. (He is still chewing tobacco, but trying to cut down, and eventually quit that, too!)

So, as of 1:30 PM, January 29th, I have been smoke-free. :o) Woo hoo! Just thought ya'll would like to know. :o)

Signing off...